Jennifer Montana, chairman of the pre-school’s committee, said substantial damage had been caused in the incident, which is believed to have happened over the Halloween weekend. The damage has been reported to the police.

She said: “They flipped it upside down and stomped on the walls.

“The roof is not attached to the walls and the walls are billowing out.”

Mrs Montana said the house was installed at the pre-school, which stands in the grounds of the All Saints Academy, just under a year ago.

That followed a fundraising campaign to raise around £350 to purchase the building.

And she fears more money will now have to be found in order to repair the damage.

She said: “It’s just heartbreaking to think that someone would do that to a toy, to children.

“They physically had to pick it up, flip it over and stomp on it. There’s no need for it, just no need for it at all.”

It is also believed that a sign for the school, which converted to academy status last year, was also stolen.